Life can be chaotic. There are a million things going on each day, and it is hard to keep up with all of the tasks that the universe is throwing your way. Maybe you are having a tough time at your place of work, perhaps you are training to become a doctor, but you are having a difficult time with the workload, or maybe you have a few kids who just don’t understand what it means to be mellow. Crazy can be fun at times, but when your life is nothing but crazy, you need to find a way to stay centered. If you find yourself overwhelmed, these tips can help guide you back to sanity.
Focus on Yourself
We’ve all been there. Your family’s needs tend to come before your own, but when you feel overwhelmed with life, there is often not enough time left for you. Of course, your family is important, but so is your mental and spiritual well-being. If you are not able to pamper yourself and have “me” time, then at least make sure to take the time to sit down and enjoy your meals. Get the sleep that your body needs. If you feel tired, hungry, or thirsty, then focus on that basic need because ignoring it will only cause you more stress.
Take a Much Needed Vacation
An actual vacation would do wonders, and if you have the opportunity, by all means, book that flight. Sadly, we don’t all have the ability to take that vacation to the Bahamas and relax on the beach, so the vacation that you need to take is a vacation from technology. We live in a technologically advanced world that can be wonderful at times, but it can also bring a lot of additional stress into your life. In fact, keeping up with your Facebook friends alone can take up a good bit of your day before you realize it.
When you leave work for the day, actually leave work. Do not take your work home with you. Reading emails all night can be stressful, and in most cases, there is nothing that can be done until morning, so don’t open the emails until morning. Doing this will allow you to focus more on yourself and your family while you are at home; you can focus on your center and plan day trips that the entire family will enjoy. Even if you simply plan a barbecue in your backyard, leave the electronics in the home. You will be amazed how relaxing an afternoon with your family can be.
Take a Deep Breath and Relax
When things are so crazy that they seem to be overtaking your sanity, remember to take a breath. Simply stepping back from the pile of things that you need to do will give you a new perspective on things and help you feel refreshed. Simply lie down on a bed of pillows, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and clear your mind. Focus on the sounds around you, and then slowly let them fade away as you bring your attention to your own breath. If you have a significant other, then you can also lie with them in the pillows and focus on their heart beat. After a few minutes of this, you will feel refreshed, centered, and ready to take on the world once again.
Sometimes relaxing in a body of water can give you more focus. I personally like to go to the lake to find my center. There is nothing more relaxing than floating in a lake, gazing up at the clouds in the sky.
Create a Meaningful Mantra
Words have meaning in our lives, so one way that you can stay centered is by finding a phrase that has a special meaning to you. You may not realize that the phrase applies to your life, so when you are feeling overwhelmed, think about the reasons behind it. Maybe you are feeling unloved, so your mantra might be “I am loved! I am worth it!” Maybe you are having financial difficulties, so you start saying “God blesses all. This too shall pass.”
The mantra that you select is going to have a personal meaning for you; no one else can choose the phrase that is going to help you maintain balance in your life. Meditation is also a great way to get centered. It is great for your mind, body, and spirit, and while you are meditating, you can repeat your mantra over and over to yourself. If you cannot meditate, then try writing your mantra down on a piece of paper to help re-center yourself.